Hose-supporter.



, No. 696,9. v Patented Apr. I, I902.-

13. H. PHELPS.

HOSE SUPPORTEB.

(Application filed Nov. 23, 1901.

7 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES P TENT QFFICE.

GEORGE II. PHELPS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE FROST COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HOSE-SUPPORTEFL' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 69 6,911, dated April 1, 1902 Application filed November 23,1901. Serial No. 83,438. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of ll/Iassachusetts,have invented certain n ew and useful Improvements in Hose-Supporters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of hosesupporters known as gentlemens garters, which comprise bands adapted to encircle the legs of the wearer, clasps for attachment to the hose, and suspending devices, such as cords, which connect the clasps with the bands. In this class of garters the cord is employed to connect the two ends of the band, which latter is provided with an adjustable loop on one end, through whichthe cord extends, and on its opposite end with a hook that may be readily connected with the cord and disconnected therefrom.

The object of my present invention is to so improve the hook that the cord may be held therein and allowed to move freely without liability of being cut or unduly worn by the sharp edges of the hook, as is ordinarily the case.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a pers ective view of a entlemans arter embodying my improvements. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of my improved hook adapted to be used in connection with a garter such as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the hook; and Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the cord arranged in the hook, the front of the hook being removed.

The clasp A may be of any preferred construction. The one shown is well known and extensively used and needs no specific description here. The suspending-cord B may be of non-elastic or elastic material and is preferably circular in cross section. The band C, which may be of elastic or non-elastic or semi-elastic material, is provided on one end with a hook D, adapted to engage the cord B, and with a loop E, through which the cord B extends. It is also provided with an adjusting-slide F, by means of which the size of the band may be regulated. Ordinarily the hook I) is formed entirely of sheet metal,

and the cord 13 is adapted to lie in the hook and bear against the edges 1) thereof. As the hook is made of thin sheet metal, these edges are often sharp and apt to cut the cord or cause it to wear rapidly or to prevent its free movement. Even when the edges 17 are reinforced or enlarged by being bent over upon themselves there is the liability of cutting or wearing above referred to. In order to remove this, I provide a special wearing-surface within the hook, preferably consisting of the Wearing-block Gr, having a curved surface g to receive the cord B. This curved surface extends from one side of the hook to the other, between the front and back portions thereof, and it extends beyond the side edges of the hook, as clearly shown in Figs.

2 and 3, so as to hold the cord away from the edges 1). This wearingsurface may be formed in Various ways; but it is preferably formed on a separate stationary block G, as indicated in the drawings, said block being secured to the book by means of a rivet g or other suitable device. Preferably the rivet extends through an enlarged opening or in the block. This, however, is not material, as the enlarged opening performs no function except to reduce the weight of the metal. The opening might be larger than that shown or it might be smaller. The extreme ends of the wearing-block, which extend beyond the edges?) of the hook, are rounded, as shown, so that no sharp edges are presented to the cord at any time.

It will be observed that the front upturned portion of the hook is arranged centrally that is, it extends laterally from both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the back portion-and the wearing-surface extends equally from both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the front upturned portion of the hook. By this means the cord is prevented from slipping out at one side, so as to engage with the sharp side edge of the hook. It will also be observed that the preferred wearing-surface shown consists of a block G, the widest portion of which is at the bottom and is close to the bottom of the hook. If the wearing-block were circular, its widest portion would be arranged some distance I00 with a curved Wearing-surface for the cord, arranged above andextending beyond both side edges of the bottom of the hook, the widest part of the wearing-surface being substantially at the bottom of the hook.

2. A hook for garters, comprising a rear portion, a bottom portion, and a front portion, which latter extends laterally from both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the back portion, in combination with a stationary curved wearing-piece, secured to the hook, and extending laterally beyond both side edges thereof, the Widest portion of said curved Wearing-piece being substantially at the bottom of the hook, while the curved wearing-surface of the Wearing-piece is arranged above the bottom of the hook.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE H. PHELPS. lVitnesses:

ALEX D. SALINGER. H. G. DONHAM. 

